FOR seven hundred years, they have been creating freemen in Altrincham.

In the past, the award gave the honoured citizen the right to wander around the historic market and pick out whatever produce they liked - without paying.

But for Altrincham Town legend Graham Heathcote, simply getting the honour was enough.

The club stalwart, who is currently its coach and secretary, was made a Freeman Burgess of Altrincham at the town's 700-year-old Court Leet.

The historic court recognises a huge debt of gratitude owed to Mr Heathcote by the town for his unstinting efforts over 30 years at Moss Lane.

Today, the honour is largely notional, but means Mr Heathcote will be able to attend the Court Leet's three meetings or ''assizes'' every year.

Not unlike council meetings, the gatherings involve the honouring of local people and reports from officers about issues and events in the borough. After the ceremony, Mr Heathcote said that he was both delighted and honoured by his new status.

''I take it as honour for me and my family, but also for the whole club,'' he said.

''Over the 30 years I have been at Altrincham, I've done nearly every job and at 47 there's still plenty of go left in me yet.

''I've been a player for around 15 years from the age of 16. Since then, I've been on the other side in management, doing everything from groundsman to coach and secretary.

''I was 16 when I joined and I got a great grounding from the likes of the then chairman Noel White and the director Len Pollitt.''

As a player, Mr Heathcote appeared at Wembley in both 1978 and 1981 in the FA trophy, which he cherishes as the highlight of his playing career.

Currently, in his testimonial season, the club has already had an impressive FA Cup run - reaching the second round last year.